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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today reported that the Members of the House (146) and Senate (22) who have cosponsored her bill to make the District of Columbia the 51st state represent a combined 188 million Americans, comprising 58 percent of the country’s total population. Norton said she will continue to seek out more cosponsors as she runs into Members in committees, on the floor and the like.

“Our work in building record support has paid off with more than half of all Americans represented by Members of Congress cosponsoring our D.C. statehood bill,” Norton said. “Considering the difficulty of even getting bills through Congress that enjoy virtually unanimous support, our plan to build incremental support is the most effective strategy. It will also take the concerted effort of passionate and tech-savvy residents to send D.C.’s statehood message across the country. My greatest disappointment is that most Americans believe we already have all the rights of those living in the states. We have work to do.”